New Lens

Right, so, the autofocus on the Nikkor 18-200 mm super zoom failed over a month ago at a Faxters' rally - remember? Well, Jacobs the camera chain sent it to some mender and it isn't back yet. So as we're going motorhoming in France from next Friday, yesterday I accompanied Chris to Manchester to purchase, if I could, a second-hand lens.

I went to the London Camera Exchange in Piccadilly, to be served by Sebastian Banach, a mon-syllabic East European sales person, who assumed too high a knowledge of optics on the part of his prospective clientele, I suspect. These first two photos are me just trying out different lenses, which obviously you can with digital and then immediately compare the results.

I bought for £179 a Sigma 17-70 mm 1: 2.8-4.5 autofocus zoom. Been very happy with the Sigma macro, so I was fairly confident about the purchase. And below I tried it out that very afternoon.

I rushed back to show Chris my new thingy, but she was in THE BIGGEST LINGERIE DEPARTMENT IN MANCHESTER! I needed a cup of tea and fast. Chris and the utterly enchanting facilities of the Arndale were there to help me recover my composure before boarding the down train.

That very same evening we had a dramatic sunset and I think the new lens is proving its worth. Also came with a lens cap, hood, and uv filter. As it's 72 mm diameter, one of the Cokin adaptors fits too. What luck!